Botanic Garden Unveils Historic Message in New Event Space
The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park in Traverse City has opened a new event space in Barn 206, a structure that was once part of the Traverse City State Hospital. This barn, historically used by hospital patients and staff as part of a therapeutic farming program, now features an educational center and event space. During renovations, a message from 1957 was discovered on a wooden beam in the hayloft, preserved under plexiglass. The message, written by a former hospital worker named Cecil Morrison, reflects on the working conditions and management changes at the time. The barn, now called the Debra J. Edson Family Education Center, includes a kitchen and is available for various events. The Botanic Garden, which is free to visit, generates revenue through event rentals. 
